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Authors: Susan Mallery
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frazzled.”
“You’ll be fine. You have my room number in case you have questions or need moral support.”
Liz nodded. “If all the parents have your room number, you’re not going to get a lot of sleep.”
“An occupational hazard.” Maggie glanced at David. “You seem to have things covered.”
David grinned. “I’m here to offer muscle, not baby support. I barely know which end to change.”
“Liz,” Maggie said with a laugh, “the man needs a quick course in the basics.”
Liz figured she did, as well, but instead of saying that, she thanked the social worker and headed to the elevator.
“If you don’t mind being my pack animal for just a little longer,” she said, motioning to the car seat.
“Not at all. She’s cute.”
Liz glanced at Natasha. The baby had quieted and now stared all around. Her big blue eyes widened when they stepped into the elevator.
They rode up to Liz’s floor, then David followed her to her room. Liz used the old-fashioned key, then swung the door open, motioning for him to enter.
The room was bright and large, with big south-facing windows and a small alcove perfect for the crib that had been placed there. Stacks of diapers sat on the desk, along with baby wipes and cans of formula. A single hot plate and a pot gave her a place to heat bottles.
“You came prepared,” David said as he carefully set the car seat in a chair in the corner.
Liz set down her purse and the diaper bag. “I can’t take credit for the crib or the hot plate. Children’s Connection provides those to adoptive parents. They also gave me diapers and the formula. It’s what she’s been used to eating, so her stomach won’t get upset. I have some stuff I brought from the States. I’ll mix in a little each time I feed her so she gets used to it gradually. Oh, and there’s also baby food. Europeans generally start babies on solids sooner than we do. Of course, in France, six-year-olds have wine with dinner, so there are a lot of cultural differences that—” She shrugged off her sweater and sighed. “I’m babbling.”
“You’re nervous.”
She nodded, then raised her gaze to his face. “I can’t help it. Last night was great but weird. I don’t usually—”
“Me, either,” he said, stepping close and putting his hands on her upper arms. “It happened and then we both had second thoughts.”
“Hence the bolting,” she murmured. “Talk about not exactly mature.”
“I’m okay with what we did and how we reacted. Can you be?”
She could, mostly because she liked the feel of his fingers on her arm, and how close he was standing. She liked the heat they generated, even now, and the way he smiled at her.
She nodded.
“Good.” He gave her a smile. “I thought I’d stay for a while and offer moral support. Just as a friend,” he added, holding up both hands in a gesture of surrender. “This isn’t a subtle attempt to get you back into bed.”
She was two parts relieved and one part disappointed. “If it was, it wouldn’t be considered subtle.” She glanced at the baby and sighed. “I would love some moral support. I’m terrified. Having an official of the U.S. government around will make me feel a lot better.”
“I’d better stay in an unofficial capacity.”
“Why?”
“Less paperwork.”
Liz laughed. David joined in. Then he was holding her and she rested her head against his shoulder as she relaxed into him.
“You’ll be fine,” he murmured, stroking her back.
“Is that a promise?”
“Sure. You’re motivated enough to get through the adoption process. You’re intelligent, caring and determined. Why wouldn’t you make a good life with Natasha?”
“Gee, when you put it like that, I’m tempted to believe you.”
“You should. I’m telling the truth.”
Natasha began fussing in her car seat. Liz stepped back from David and hurried to release her.
“How’s my girl?” she asked as she cuddled her close.
The baby stared up at her,
“You’ll be fine. You have my room number in case you have questions or need moral support.”
Liz nodded. “If all the parents have your room number, you’re not going to get a lot of sleep.”
“An occupational hazard.” Maggie glanced at David. “You seem to have things covered.”
David grinned. “I’m here to offer muscle, not baby support. I barely know which end to change.”
“Liz,” Maggie said with a laugh, “the man needs a quick course in the basics.”
Liz figured she did, as well, but instead of saying that, she thanked the social worker and headed to the elevator.
“If you don’t mind being my pack animal for just a little longer,” she said, motioning to the car seat.
“Not at all. She’s cute.”
Liz glanced at Natasha. The baby had quieted and now stared all around. Her big blue eyes widened when they stepped into the elevator.
They rode up to Liz’s floor, then David followed her to her room. Liz used the old-fashioned key, then swung the door open, motioning for him to enter.
The room was bright and large, with big south-facing windows and a small alcove perfect for the crib that had been placed there. Stacks of diapers sat on the desk, along with baby wipes and cans of formula. A single hot plate and a pot gave her a place to heat bottles.
“You came prepared,” David said as he carefully set the car seat in a chair in the corner.
Liz set down her purse and the diaper bag. “I can’t take credit for the crib or the hot plate. Children’s Connection provides those to adoptive parents. They also gave me diapers and the formula. It’s what she’s been used to eating, so her stomach won’t get upset. I have some stuff I brought from the States. I’ll mix in a little each time I feed her so she gets used to it gradually. Oh, and there’s also baby food. Europeans generally start babies on solids sooner than we do. Of course, in France, six-year-olds have wine with dinner, so there are a lot of cultural differences that—” She shrugged off her sweater and sighed. “I’m babbling.”
“You’re nervous.”
She nodded, then raised her gaze to his face. “I can’t help it. Last night was great but weird. I don’t usually—”
“Me, either,” he said, stepping close and putting his hands on her upper arms. “It happened and then we both had second thoughts.”
“Hence the bolting,” she murmured. “Talk about not exactly mature.”
“I’m okay with what we did and how we reacted. Can you be?”
She could, mostly because she liked the feel of his fingers on her arm, and how close he was standing. She liked the heat they generated, even now, and the way he smiled at her.
She nodded.
“Good.” He gave her a smile. “I thought I’d stay for a while and offer moral support. Just as a friend,” he added, holding up both hands in a gesture of surrender. “This isn’t a subtle attempt to get you back into bed.”
She was two parts relieved and one part disappointed. “If it was, it wouldn’t be considered subtle.” She glanced at the baby and sighed. “I would love some moral support. I’m terrified. Having an official of the U.S. government around will make me feel a lot better.”
“I’d better stay in an unofficial capacity.”
“Why?”
“Less paperwork.”
Liz laughed. David joined in. Then he was holding her and she rested her head against his shoulder as she relaxed into him.
“You’ll be fine,” he murmured, stroking her back.
“Is that a promise?”
“Sure. You’re motivated enough to get through the adoption process. You’re intelligent, caring and determined. Why wouldn’t you make a good life with Natasha?”
“Gee, when you put it like that, I’m tempted to believe you.”
“You should. I’m telling the truth.”
Natasha began fussing in her car seat. Liz stepped back from David and hurried to release her.
“How’s my girl?” she asked as she cuddled her close.
The baby stared up at her,
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